Southern California -- this just in

Committee backs $400,000 pay package for San Diego State president

A Cal State trustees committee has voted to approve a proposed $400,000 compensation package for San Diego State President Elliot Hirshman, with a vote of the full board expected this afternoon.

Before the committee vote, board chairman Herbert Carter said he will ask that a special committee be formed to review how candidates for presidents of Cal State campuses are selected and to study policies of the board in determining compensation.

Carter said he was making his proposal in response to Gov. Jerry Brown's concern. Carter added, though, "It seems to me at this point in time to be extraordinarily difficult, having hired this president and he having started work, to debate the wisdom of what we are going to pay him."